Nut-lock.



No. 640,849. Patented lan. 9, |900. L. WADE.

NUT LOCK.

(Application ed May 18, 1699,)

(No Model.)

f5 i7 i172, 10

Xx IJ la' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LILBURN WADE, OF ESCALON, CALIFORNIA.I

NUT-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,849, dated January9, 1900.

Application iiled May 18, 1899.

To @ZZ whom. it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, LILBURN WADE, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Escalon, in the county of San Joaquin and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful N ut. Lock, of which thefollowin g is a speciiication.

This invention relates to nut-locks, and is especiallydesigned for useto connect the fishplates at the ends of the abutting rail-sec'- tionsof a railway-track.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and improved devicehaving means for taking up the-longitudinal play of the bolts, which is.frequently caused by the Wear of trains passing over the track.

To this end the present invention consists in the combination andarrangement of part-s, which will be hereinafter more fully de-vscribed, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device applied toa rail-section. Fig: 2 is a horizontal sectional View thereof. Fig. 3 isa vertical transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail perspectiveView of the baseplate.y Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of thelocking cap-plate.

Corresponding parts are designated by like reference characters in allthe figures ofthe drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a rail-sectionhaving the usual fish-plates 2, arranged at opposite sides of the railand provided with the bolts 3, extending through the same and providedatt-heir threaded ends with the fastening-nuts 4. These parts are shownto more fully illustrate the operation of the device.

The present invention comprises, essentially, a yielding base-plate 5,against which the nuts are adapted to be set, and a locking cap-plate 6,adapted to embrace the nuts and having an interlocking engagement withthe base-plate,whereby the nuts'are adapted to be locked againstaccidental loosening.

The base-plate is best illustrated in Fig. 4 and comprises a flat bodyportion having boltopenings 7 provided therethrough and located nearopposite ends thereof. Intermediate of the bolt-openings there isprovided another opening 8, preferably circular in form. Spanserial No.717,352. (No model.)

ning the latter opening longitudinally of the base-plate is abridge-piece or housing 9, hav ing an Vinwardly-extendinglug or pin10,alined with the opening 8. Extending outwardly from the outer face ofthe bridge-piece is a flat ear 11, which is provided with a verticalopening 12. This base-plate is applied in position before the nuts havebeen fitted to the bolts, the latter being received through thebolt-openings 7, and then the nuts are fitted to the bolts tightlyagainst the outer face of the plate. As the plate is engaged near itsopposite ends by the bolts, the said plate is prevented from beingaccidentally turned, as will be understood.

The locking cap-plate, as shown in Fig. 5, is in the form of a linkhaving an offset plate 13 connecting the opposite sides of the link-vshaped cap intermediate of the ends thereof. This plate is provided witha slot 14, extends ing longitudinally of the cap-plate, and provided inthe outer face of the offset plate is a vertical groove 15, extendingentirely across said plate and intersecting the slot 14:. *The upper endof this groove is enlarged, as shown at 16. f

The base-plate being in position, as hereinbefore described, to lock thenuts against accidental turning, the cap-plate is'fitted in position byreceiving the nuts between the opposite sides and near the respectiveends thereof and the ear 11, projecting outwardly through the slot 14,formed in the offset plate 13. By reason of the bridge-piece 9 fittingsnugly between the sides of the cap-plate the latter is prevented fromturning upon the base-plate, and the sides of the cap-plate em- .bracingthe sides of the nuts eectually prevent the latter from beingaccidentally turned or loosened, as will be understood. To prea ventaccidental displacement of the cap-plate, a substantial U -shaped orsplit spring-key 17 is inserted through the vertical opening 12 in theear 11 and received in the groove 15, which is formed in the offsetplate 13.v The upper end of this key is provided with a head 1S,preferably by bending orupsetting the same, and adapted to engage theupper side of the cap-plate to prevent the key from dropping entirelythrough the vertical opening 12.'

In order that any longitudinal movement of the bolts may be taken up, Iprovide a IOO coiled spring 19, which embraces the lug or pin l0,carried by the bridge-piece 9, and extends through the intermediateopening formed through the base-plate. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and3, the opposite ends of this spring bear against the inner face of thebridge-piece and the outer face of the adjacent fish-plate,respectively, whereby there is a normal tension against the base-plateto force the saine outward from the rail-section toward and against thenuts e, whereby the bolts are eiectually held against longitudinalmovement.

The present invention provides a simple and improved nut-lool; forlocking the nuts of adjacent bolts against accidental displacement andpermits of a ready positioning and removal of the device Withoutdamaging or destroying the bolts or nuts, and thereby permits of therenewed use of the device.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details ofconstruction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted toWithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages ofthis invention.

What I claim is- 1. In a nut-lock, the combination with ad: jacent boltsand the nuts thereof, of a baseplate having opposite bolt-openingsadapted to receive the bolts, a locking cap plate adapted to embrace thenuts and having an interlocking en gagelnent with thebase-plate, and aspring projecting vfrom the inner face of the base-plate, whereby thelatter is yieldingly mounted upon the bolts,` substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

2. In a nut-lock, the combination with adjacent bolts and the nutsthereof, of a baseplate having opposite bolt-openings adapted to looseiyreceive the bolts, an opening intermediate ot the bolt-openings, and ahousing or bridge-piece spanning the latter opening, a spring bearingagainst the inner side of the housing and projecting through theintermediate opening, and a lookin g cap-platey adapted to embracethenuts and having an interlocking engagement with the base-plate,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a nut-lock, the combination with adjacent bolts and the nutsthereof, of a baseplate provided with opposite bolt-openings adapted toloosely receive the bolts, an intermediate opening located between thebolt openings, and a housing or bridge-piece spanning the intermediateopening and having a lu g extendinginwardly toward the base-plate in'line with the vinterinediete opening, and an outwardly-extending earprovided with a vertical opening, a locking cap-plate in the form of alink having an offset plate int-ermediate of its ends provided with alongitui dinalslot and a transverse groove intersecting the slot, thecap-plate being adapted to embrace the nuts and the bridge-piece andreceive the ear through the slot in the offset plate, and aV key adaptedto be passed through the opening in the ear and received in the grooveci the odset plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto athxedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

LiLBUaN WADE.

YVitnesses:

T. S. MILLER., B. SPLITHOFF.

